The government has decided to start paying compensation for the damages caused by the August devastating flooding, its spokesman said Wednesday.

According to Aleksandar Gjorgiev, flood compensations will be paid in several tranches in October and November. The first tranche, estimated at MKD 118 million, will cover 947 cases, i.e. 25% out of the at least four thousand that have been prepared so far.

“The citizens can be rest assured that the government will fulfill the pledge given in August and compensate all those who were affected by the floods, spokesman Gjorgiev told a news conference.

He said the first tranche should be paid out by the end of the week.

Up to now, Gjorgiev added, the government has paid MKD 30,000 per case as an advance payment of compensation for a total of 3,074 cases. Close to 1,000 households haven’t received advance payout and they will be compensated at once.

“As promised, flood damages will be compensated 100%. A full, 100% damage compensation is a practice in only a handful of countries across the world. The fact that damages are compensated 100% is the essence and focus on this process and any attempt made to underestimate the fact is wrong. On the contrary, this fact should be adequately valued and accentuated,” noted the government spokesman.